Directional signal lens



Sept. 2 1924.

P. s. VAN BLOEM DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LENS Filed Sept. 18 1923 INVENTOR aalfiglalnfllzmi Y ASEQW ATTORNEYS.

. type present many difficulties.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL SCHUYLER VAN BLOEIVL, 0F I-IEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO VIKING ZERODUCTS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LENS.

Application filed September 18, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL SoHUYLER VAN BLoEM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hempstead, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Directional Signal Lenses, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of the invention is to provide a directional signal lens especially adapted for use as an up and down signal for elevators as well as a left and right indicator for traffic and other uses.

Elevators in large buildings are usually arranged in banks or groups in a corridor. Frequently the elevators are arranged on opposite sides of the corridor. The up and down signals,'which indicate the direction of travel of the elevator, are usually supported by means projecting beyond the wall of the corridor above the elevator doors. These signals as ordinarily arranged are automatically lighted through a contact device actuated by the movement of the elevator in the shaft, to indicate whether the elevator is traveling up or down. Signals of this They are difficult to understand instantaneously; require thought of interpretation of their meaning; are usually unsightly and are not, as a general rule, well adapted for the purpose of directing the waiting passenger to the oncoming elevators. This is due to the fact that they are not in themselves of such form as to impel the waiting passenger to move to the door of the oncoming elevator.

A signal lens made in accordance with this invention is particularly adapted to be set flush, or substantially flush, with the wall of the elevator shaft, and is so constructed and shaped that it will be luminous viewed from substantially any angle by any one standing anywhere in the elevator corridor. The lens is preferably in the form of an arrow pointing in the direction of the travel of the elevator. The arrow indicating the up travel of the elevator will be automatically illuminated by the car or the contact device in its upward travel, while the arrow indicating the downward movement of the elevator will be automatically illuminated Serial No. 663,462.

by the car in its downward travel. The arrow is so constructed that the light rays from the main portion of the arrow will be directed downwardly and laterally in such manner that the arrow will appear luminous and will have the form of an arrow when viewed from any point in the elevator corridor.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a face view of an up signal lens with an opaque stencil plate applied thereto;

Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 a vertical sectional view of a down signal lens; and

Fig. 6 a partial vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of lens.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, l designates the body of the lens which is preferably a molded block or piece of glass. Molded integral with this body portion and projecting a suitable distance outwardly or forwardly beyond the forward flat face thereof is an arrow head 2. The arrow head consists of two planes 3 and 4 obliquely arranged and meeting in a central ridge 5. The outer margins of the planes 3 and 4 join the fiat outer surface of the body part of the lens. These planes are broadest atthe base of the arrow head and taper toward the point of the arrow. The ridge. 5 and the outer margins of the planes 3 and 4 meet at the point of the arrow. The base of the arrow head is formed by the two obliquely arranged planes 6 and 7. The stem 8 oins the base of the arrow head and is formed by the two obliquely arranged planes 9 and 10 which meet at the central ridge 15. The planes 3 and 4, and 6 and 7, and the stem 8, all project forwardly beyond the forward flat face of the lens body. The planes 3 and 4 are of sufficient size to be readily observed from any point in the ordinary elevator corridor; and because of their form they have the appearance of an arrow when viewed from any angle.

The inner side of the arrow is formed by planes 1'1 and 12. These planes are slightly oblique in a vertical direction with l the planes 3 and 4, so that the walls of the light.

arrow head will taper upwardly so that the upper portions of the walls of the arrow will be thinner than the lower portions thereof as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 5. The planes 11 and 12 are also arranged at an angle with respect to the planes 3 and 1, in horizontal section, as shown clearly in Fig. 8, so that the walls of the arrow viewed in horizontal section.

the arrow, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The

lens may be secured to the stencil plate or holder in any suitable manner, as b clips 14L The lens with its opaque stenci T plate may be secured in any suitable form of holder adapted to contain the usual signal The light rays from a source of light arranged back of thelens, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, will pass forwardly through the lens and illuminate the arrow. As shown in Fig. 2 the light rays passing I through the planes 11-3 and 124, because ofthe angular relation of the planes, will be diverted and. bent downwardly toward the observer. Theseirays will also be bent or diverted laterally as indicated in Fig. 3. By this means the planes3 and 4 of the arrow'will be brilliantly illuminated to an observer at either side of and. below the arrow. With the lens arranged as illustrated .in Fig. 5 the rays of. light will be similarly bent anddiverted downwardly and laterally from the planes 113 and 12-4.

It is not essential that the planes 6 and 7 and the stem 8 at the base of the arrow be brilliantly illuminated. It isdesirable that S01116\ of these surfaces be dull. in order to contrast them with the brilliantly illu minated surfaces 3 and 4:. It is-obvious,however, that some of these surfaces will be brilliantly illuminated when. viewed from some angles and that others of. said surfaces will be dull or not. illuminated, so that the contrasting effect will be suflicient to sharply define the arrow formation.

The arrow formation of lens-is desirable as a directional indicator because its universal use for that purpose makes explanation of the signals unnecessary.

In Fig; 6 the inner surface of the arrow is indicated as serrated. In this form of the device the planes 11 and 12 will be formed with substantially horizontal serra tions having sharp ridges. In this form .said body part, the wall of said arrow portion being tapered upwardly so that the upper portion of the arrow isthinnen than the lower portion thereof, said wall also tapering. toward the center. of. the arrow whereby where it joins the base of the lens it. is thicker thanat thecenter of. the arrow,- whereby light rays passing; outwardly through the arrow will be bent and diverted downwardly and laterally.

2. A directional'signal lenscomp-rising a body portion of. glass-havingjmolded integrally therewith a hollowv arrow headiwhicli projects. forwardly beyond the. forward face of the body, said arrow being formed by the exterior tapered planes 3 and 4E and the interior tapered. planesv 11 and 12, the

interior planes being inclined. with. respect to the exterior planes in vertical direction whereby the walls of. the arrow. will be tapered upwardly, said interior. planes 11 and 12 being also at. an angle with respect to the exterior planes when viewed. hori zontally, whereby the walls of the arrow will. be tapered. from the base 11 to the jilIlC: tion. of the said walls. v i

3. A directional signal lenscompri'singan integral molded arrow, the wall. of said arrowv beingtapered upwardly, so that. the upper portionof thearrowv is thinner than the lower portion thereof, said. wall/also tapering: toward the center of: the arrow whereby the outer portions oflthe arrow are thicker than the central. portion thereof so that light rays passing outwardly throughthe arrow. willbe bent anddiverted downwardly. and laterally. i

4t. A directional signal 'lens comprisingan integral molded arrow. the walls. of said arrow being'tapered upwardly so that the upper portion of the arrow is thinner than the lower portion thereof whereby light rays passing outwardly throughthe arrow will be bent. and diverted/downwardly.

5. A directional signal lens comprising a body portion of. glass having molded in-' tegrally therewith a; hollow directional device which projects forwardlyjbeyond the forward face of the body, said directional device being formed with upwardly tapering walls so that the'upper. portion-Iof the said-device is thinner than the lower portion thereof whereby. fight rays passing out.-

wardly through said device will be bent and diverted downwardly.

6. A directional signal lens comprising an integral molded directional device having walls which vary in thickness from their upper to their lower ends whereby light. rays passing outwardly through said walls from the rear side to the front side will be bent and diverted at different angles at different points in the vertical length of the 10 directional device.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

PAUL SGHUYLER VAN BLOEM. 

